S M I T T E N ( Kuroo Tetsurou x OC )

『 19 』

Original Art by 蒼, Pixiv ID 1230509

"Aya! Wake up!" Mom pulled the sheets off my body. "Your classmates are waiting downstairs."

My body curled up to the sudden feeling of the cold morning air.

"Tell them to leave," I mumbled into the pillow. "I'm not going to school today."

She yanked my arm, pulling me up. "You're skipping school now? Where did my parenting go wrong?"

She looked into my bloodshot eyes then her grip faltered.

"Did something happen?" her voice switched to a tone of concern.

"Please don't make me go to school today," I pleaded under my breath.

My eyes drooped down. I didn't want Mom to see me like this.

"Understood. Get a lot of rest, okay?" She let go of my arm and left the room.

I listened to her footsteps walk down the stairs.

"Aya isn't feeling well today." I heard her muffled voice explain to presumably Kuroo and Kenma.

After all the support they have given me yesterday, I felt bad that I couldn't be in higher spirits.

I looked outside my window, and as expected, Kuroo and Kenma left.

Kuroo stopped and looked up at me. He smiled and waved before walking away.

How did he know I was here?

I rested my head on my pillow as yesterday's conversation in the gym went through my head.

⟣ ⟡ ⟢

"Something has been bothering me all day."

I sat in between Kuroo and Mizuki. Both teams were now sitting in one giant circle after introducing themselves.

"What is it?" Yaku was the first to ask.

Everyone stared intently at me, making me nervous.

"People kept calling me a 'homewrecker' but I don't know what that is..."

"My innocent Aya-pi!" Mizuki threw her arms around me. "How dare they call you that!"

"But what does it mean?" I clarified my question.

"Oh, I know! Someone who wrecks homes!" Haiba, whom everyone calls Lev, chimed in.

"That's not it!" Yaku slapped the back of his head.

"Eek! Boys are scary!" Hina and Mina shouted in unison whilst hugging each other.

Is no one going to answer my question?

"Ahem," Marie cleared her throat. "It's the term for someone who knowingly breaks up a relationship."

"But I did no such thing?" The answer only puzzled me more.

"They think Sumiko and I dated and that you split us up," Kuroo explained. "The fact that she didn't show up to school today plays into the narrative that she's really heartbroken."

"That calculative bi-"

"Language!" Marie interrupted Mizuki.

"I don't think Ishihara-san is the only one spreading the rumours," Kai observed. "After what happened between Sakurai-san and Kunihara-san, a new rumour about Sakurai-san being a thief quickly spread through the school."